1961 Chevrolet Mako Shark

(from General Motors Press Release)  Later known as the “Mako Shark I,” the Corvette Shark of 1961 was the brainchild of Bill Mitchell. Legend surrounds the origin of the car, including Mitchell’s flash of inspiration after catching a shark while deep-sea fishing. The Shark looked like a real shark, with a mouth, gills and a shark-like paint scheme that gradated from blue/gray on the top to silver/white on the bottom (along the rocker panels). Memorable features include a sharp, menacing “nose” and four-into-two side pipes. The Shark, along with the Stingray Racer, heavily influenced the body design of the second generation of Corvettes.